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ExtremeCloud IQ vs WatchGuard Secure Wi‑Fi comparison

The compared Extreme and WatchGuard solutions aren't in the same category. Extreme is ranked #11 in NMA , with an average rating of 8.5, and holds a 2.8% mindshare in the category. WatchGuard is ranked #23 in Wireless LAN , with an average rating of 7.0, and holds a 0.5% mindshare. Additionally, 97% of Extreme users are willing to recommend the solution, compared to 83% of WatchGuard users who would recommend it.
ExtremeCloud IQ
Read 76 ExtremeCloud IQ reviews
  • 2,716 Views
  • 489 Comparison Views
97% willing to recommend
WatchGuard Secure Wi‑Fi
Read 7 WatchGuard Secure Wi‑Fi reviews
  • 510 Views
  • 500 Comparison Views
83% willing to recommend
 

Comparison Buyer's Guide

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Executive Summary
We performed a comparison between ExtremeCloud IQ and WatchGuard Secure Wi‑Fi based on real PeerSpot user reviews.

Find out what your peers are saying about Cisco, Hewlett Packard Enterprise, Fortinet and others in Network Management Applications.

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Network Management Applications
June 2025
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Review summaries and opinions

We asked business professionals to review the solutions they use. Here are some excerpts of what they said:
 

Categories and Ranking

ExtremeCloud IQ
Average Rating
8.8
Reviews Sentiment
7.3
Number of Reviews
76
Ranking in other categories
Network Management Applications (11th), Network Access Control (NAC) (12th), Intrusion Detection and Prevention Software (IDPS) (20th)
WatchGuard Secure Wi‑Fi
Average Rating
7.8
Reviews Sentiment
6.4
Number of Reviews
7
Ranking in other categories
Wireless LAN (23rd)
 

Mindshare comparison

ExtremeCloud IQ and WatchGuard Secure Wi‑Fi aren’t in the same category and serve different purposes. ExtremeCloud IQ is designed for Network Management Applications and holds a mindshare of 2.8%, down 2.9% compared to last year.
WatchGuard Secure Wi‑Fi, on the other hand, focuses on Wireless LAN, holds 0.5% mindshare, up 0.4% since last year.
Network Management Applications
Wireless LAN
 

Featured Reviews

KristianLarsen - PeerSpot reviewer
Helps resolve network-related issues quickly and is reasonably priced
The tool has both advantages and weaknesses because it has several pieces of software on which it has been working because of buyouts. The tool has several branches of software versions, and you can consolidate it into ExtremeCloud, but it also has the disadvantage that sometimes people can get issues because the software on the hardware is different than they expected, especially if it is not converted to the tool used. The tool has simplified things, but it also adds a complexity that sometimes stumps some users. In the future, I think the tool’s onboarding setup of a new tenant could be smoother or faster. I also think that they could provide a simpler setup for first-level support so that it can be easier for them to have a support dashboard that would help them. I am talking about customer support organizations, so you usually have a high turnaround, but you need to have something that is easier to use and where you don't need so much training.
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WarrenWilliams - PeerSpot reviewer
A solution that offers excellent support and makes it easy to manage networks
To utilize the solution properly, you need some training and guidance on that. Getting it working is easy, but if you're going to use it with feature sets that make WatchGuard worthwhile to use, it's probably not the easiest to set up. I'd rate the initial setup a seven out of ten. The time taken to deploy the solution depends on the project scope you're doing. Do you need ten WiFi access points or one? You could deploy the solution in an hour. We need one person to deploy the solution. But the number of people required for deployment depends on where the access points are deployed. Like, if it's the ceiling or whatever. The way we do it, we usually have an on-site technician who sets up the backend. We usually have two people when deploying the solution, but you can do it with one person. We have a team that manages the solution. But if you have ten people on a site to manage the solution, 15 minutes daily is enough.
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Quotes from Members

We asked business professionals to review the solutions they use. Here are some excerpts of what they said:
 

Pros

"The technical support for this solution is good."
"The HiveManager integration with the VPN Gateway is awesome."
"What's most valuable for me in ExtremeCloud IQ is easy management. It also has centralized administration, so you don't have to go to the customer site to program it. It can be programmed remotely."
"ExtremeCloud IQ is an intuitive platform. The tool's ability to streamline network operations depends on the end customer. Sometimes it's quicker, and sometimes it takes much longer. It helps me to address network problems."
"It allows me to see APs and clients that are having issues, allowing for faster support response and less downtime."
"The cloud management gives us the tools and reports that we need to monitor and troubleshoot the network."
"App and firewall security at the AP."
"Another valuable feature is the automation of Wi-Fi configurations, which allows the wireless network to auto-reconfigure in case of problems."
More ExtremeCloud IQ pros
"They're very easy to set up and get running."
"The solution has been stable."
"It makes it easy to obtain all information about the client experience."
"Cloud analytics that provide all its attributes."
"We like that WatchGuard works and integrates directly with the firewalls we use."
"The configuration part of WatchGuard is very flexible."
"The Wi-Fi security features of this solution have been great for our customers who need to strictly control access to their network."
 

Cons

"I struggled with the documentation."
"Having a wizard for customers who are just starting might be helpful."
"Its price could be lower. It is a simplified solution, but it has price challenges. It is costly as compared to other solutions. It has almost everything. The only thing is that MAC is not possible on the cloud, and it has to be on-premises."
"Their firewall configuration gets funky and it can be difficult to understand."
"The managing of switches within this solution could be improved."
"An area for improvement in ExtremeCloud IQ is its technical support. Support could be better, especially when you need help concerning ExtremeCloud IQ and WinG."
"ExtremeCloud should invest in an SD-WAN solution or integration with SD-WAN."
"Browser load time for the cloud is long and needs improvement."
More ExtremeCloud IQ cons
"The solution can be scaled but it has limitations from my experience."
"If a client device had issues with authentication due to out of date browser or similar difficulties, it would be nice to have the ability to migrate the client onto the portal via one click."
"One of the things is if you buy it with a certain subscription, you can't easily change the subscription level."
"The support response can be time-consuming because sometimes issues are very sensitive and require instant attention."
"I don't think they're available at the best price."
"The price of this solution needs to reviewed, as it is currently high enough to deter customers from trying it."
"Inability to import a user with one click."
 

Pricing and Cost Advice

"I am not involved in the price, but I am sure that it is not cheap."
"The price was okay."
"Customers need to pay a yearly licensing fee for ExtremeCloud IQ, which is a little bit expensive."
"It is not the cheapest product but I think that the price is reasonable because you get a lot of support of it's needed."
"I did a multi-year license. It was a three-year license. It compares well with others in terms of the price. It is about a hundred dollars per year on a three-year scale."
"Bring the cost down."
"For example, if you compare Aruba vs Aerohive, you need to check which licences from Aruba you need to match the functionality of Aerohive (usually you need at least three types of licences and a controller with redundancy). The same goes with Cisco, where you need buy additional licences for central management, firewall, spectral analysis, WIPS, PPSK, etc. Aerohive has a very simple model - one licence for all the functionalities - and you can believe that there are many. One licence makes it easy to maintain, scale, renew and you can plan your costs 10 years in advance."
"This solution offers annual licensing that is middle of the range in terms of cost."
More ExtremeCloud IQ pricing and cost advice
"WatchGuard is on the upper scale for pricing."
"The solution is priced high compared to competitors. However, for the features that are included in the solution, the price becomes more reasonable."
"Your licensing and cost, as would be required for many other solutions, being considered for eighty to two hundred and eighty different physical locations, is just about the same amount per access point."
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Top Industries

By visitors reading reviews
Computer Software Company
13%
Comms Service Provider
9%
Educational Organization
9%
Manufacturing Company
9%
Comms Service Provider
13%
Computer Software Company
12%
Non Profit
11%
Government
9%
 

Company Size

By reviewers
Large Enterprise
Midsize Enterprise
Small Business
 

Questions from the Community

What are pros and cons of Aruba 515 Series AP vs. Cisco Meraki or Extreme Networks?
Depends. I have personally used both Cisco and Aruba so I am familiar with them. Extreme I am not, so unless they have some feature that I need or want, I wouldn't consider them. Do you have expe...
See all answers
What do you like most about ExtremeCloud IQ?
The Client 360 feature provides a comprehensive view of your clients and their activities, including the devices they use. Additionally, a feature called Network 360 offers a 360-degree view of the...
See all answers
What is your experience regarding pricing and costs for ExtremeCloud IQ?
The licensing was a challenge due to budget constraints, and I used ExtremeCloud IQ without a license for a period. The documentation and training courses were also costly, impacting how easily I c...
See all answers
What do you like most about WatchGuard Secure Wi‑Fi?
We like that WatchGuard works and integrates directly with the firewalls we use.
See all answers
What is your experience regarding pricing and costs for WatchGuard Secure Wi‑Fi?
WatchGuard is on the upper scale for pricing.
See all answers
What needs improvement with WatchGuard Secure Wi‑Fi?
The support response can be time-consuming because sometimes issues are very sensitive and require instant attention. Also, when an incident occurs, the impact can be significantly huge. A recent p...
See all answers
 

Comparisons

Cisco Meraki Wireless LAN vs ExtremeCloud IQ Logo
Cisco Meraki Wireless LAN vs ExtremeCloud IQ
Compared 14% of the time
Ruckus Wireless vs ExtremeCloud IQ Logo
Ruckus Wireless vs ExtremeCloud IQ
Compared 12% of the time
Ubiquiti Wireless vs ExtremeCloud IQ Logo
Ubiquiti Wireless vs ExtremeCloud IQ
Compared 10% of the time
Cisco DNA Center vs ExtremeCloud IQ Logo
Cisco DNA Center vs ExtremeCloud IQ
Compared 9% of the time
Fortinet FortiGate Cloud vs ExtremeCloud IQ Logo
Fortinet FortiGate Cloud vs ExtremeCloud IQ
Compared 7% of the time
More ExtremeCloud IQ Competitors
Ruckus Wireless vs WatchGuard Secure Wi‑Fi Logo
Ruckus Wireless vs WatchGuard Secure Wi‑Fi
Compared 34% of the time
Ubiquiti WLAN vs WatchGuard Secure Wi‑Fi Logo
Ubiquiti WLAN vs WatchGuard Secure Wi‑Fi
Compared 32% of the time
Aruba Wireless vs WatchGuard Secure Wi‑Fi Logo
Aruba Wireless vs WatchGuard Secure Wi‑Fi
Compared 22% of the time
Fortinet FortiWLM vs WatchGuard Secure Wi‑Fi Logo
Fortinet FortiWLM vs WatchGuard Secure Wi‑Fi
Compared 12% of the time
More WatchGuard Secure Wi‑Fi Competitors
 

Product Reports

Buyer's Guide
ExtremeCloud IQ
July 2025
ExtremeCloud IQ reportDownload ExtremeCloud IQ product report
Buyer's Guide
WatchGuard Secure Wi‑Fi
June 2025
WatchGuard Secure Wi‑Fi reportDownload WatchGuard Secure Wi‑Fi product report
 

Also Known As

Aerohive Networks, Aerohive HiveManager, HiveManager, ExtremeCloud , ExtremeSecurity
No data available
 

Overview

ExtremeCloud is a resilient and scalable cloud-based network management solution offered by Extreme Networks as a subscription service.

The network is your platform of engagement for clients and staff. We have designed ExtremeCloud to provide superior user experience by empowering you and the applications that drive your business. The combination of Extreme Networks’ smart wired and wireless edges and the elasticity, resilience and scalability provided via state-of-the-art datacenters distributed strategically for worldwide availability allows you to respond to the changing needs of your business, at the speed of cloud, through a simple, multi-site aware user interface.

Extreme

WatchGuard is a global leader in network security, secure Wi-Fi, and network intelligence products and services for SMBs and Distributed Enterprises worldwide. Our mission is to make enterprise-grade security accessible to companies of all types and sizes through simplicity, making WatchGuard an ideal solution for distributed enterprises and SMBs. WatchGuard is headquartered in Seattle, Washington, with offices throughout North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, and Latin America.

WatchGuard
 

Sample Customers

Henry Ford Health System, Baltimore Ravens, Brandili, Federal University of Alagoas, CEDAE, Caxias do Sul, UNISC Concurrency, CenturyLink Field, Louisiana College, Cricket Tasmania Stadium, Moscow Internet Exchange
Portsmouth Grammar School, HILOTEC
Buyer's Guide
Network Management Applications
June 2025
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